Brash to put Maori back on the agenda

National leader Don Brash will tomorrow renew his Orewa assault on special treatment for Maori, as a Herald on Sunday poll shows most Kiwis believe ending Treaty settlements would be good for the country.

He will single out laws such as the Crown Entities Act, which requires public agencies to recognise the need for Maori employees.

"I think that's very dangerous stuff," Brash said yesterday.

Two polls out today are expected to show National dramatically closing the gap on Labour, echoing a New Zealand Herald-Digipoll in the wake of Brash's tax cuts announcement last week.

But Prime Minister Helen Clark - who will announce new policy on transport and child dental health this week - said she had expected a small surge for National off the back of its tax announcement. "That was their single shot," she said.

Brash is expected in a speech in Whangarei tomorrow to attack more than 30 laws for their references to the "vague" principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

"It is very important because National is determined to show that it stands by the statements made at Orewa," said Brash.

"Important, because it's another key area of difference between National and Labour."

Clark was dismissive.

"I think it's going to be like the sequel to a blockbuster. Jaws 2 was never quite the same," she said.

A Herald on Sunday-DigiPoll shows 57 per cent of respondents believe Treaty settlement filing deadlines will assist the final resolution of claims for the good of the country.

But most also acknowledge that would require compromise by Maori.

A total of 38.1 per cent of those polled say deadlines will provide less satisfying settlements for claimant groups, compared with 29.8 per cent who say they will be more satisfying.

The poll asked which areas the Government should invest more money and where it should save.

Health, education and tax cuts topped the list for more funding.

A massive 40.2 per cent wanted the Government to cut funding for Treaty settlements, with welfare and defence trailing well behind.

The poll of 1000 people has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent.

Labour has followed the lead of Act, NZ First and National in proposing deadlines for the filing of Treaty of Waitangi claims with a settlement "target" of 2020.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton welcomed the poll's support for deadlines and said settlements were progressing faster than ever.

"Labour is committed to completing historical Treaty settlements and recognises the importance to Maori and for all of New Zealand of doing so as soon as possible," he said.

But National's Maori affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee has described Labour's campaign card pledge as a "cynical election year sham", given that the Budget provided little extra funding to the Waitangi Tribunal.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY